“Where is your aunt?” he asked immediately.
“She left earlier with Lady Cecil. I have a stop—”
“Not alone you don’t,” Ezra interrupted flatly.
Alice’s mouth tightened. He had once been Charles’s footman, employed when her brother’s health declined. Ezra and his wife Maggie, Alice’s maid, had stood beside the family until the very end. On Charles’s last lucid night, he had grasped Ezra’s arm and rasped,Take care of Alice.It was a vow Ezra had taken seriously.
“This is important,” Alice insisted.
“And all part of your revenge, I suppose?”
“Yes.”
Ezra’s thick brows lowered, shadowing eyes that missed nothing. “Very well, but you’ll not go anywhere alone.”
She blew out a sharp breath. “Ezra—”
“I made him a promise. But even had I not, I would keep you safe. Your aunt is kind and sweet-natured, and oblivious to thefact you’re not the well-behaved young lady you portray yourself to be, content with books and embroidery. I know better. Therefore, I am watching over you.”
Her throat constricted. She hated and loved him for his perception. “I’m quite sure Aunt Gwen would take you to task for that statement.”
“Likely. But she would not thank me for telling her what you truly do.” His deep voice rolled like approaching thunder.
Alice’s lips pressed into a line. He knew too much, and always had. She had let him and Maggie close once, when her grief was overwhelming, and they had seen everything. The fury, the tears, the vow for vengeance. Now they watched her every move, especially Ezra.
“I will go to the address and make my inquiries, then return,” she said. “That is all.”
He grunted but yielded, knowing that if he forbade it, which he had no right to do, she would find another way.
The carriage rattled through narrow streets, and Alice wrapped her evening cloak tighter around her body. She was shivering not from cold but anticipation.
When they stopped, Ezra climbed from the driver’s seat.
“I am going in there.” Alice pointed toward a tall, dark building. “If I am not back in thirty minutes, find me.”
“I said not alone.”
Alice made a show of looking around. “And who will hold the horses while you accompany me?” She was already walking away before he delivered the last word and attempted to stop her.
“Lady Alice!”
She ignored the bellow and made for the old stone building. She had several people who were making enquiries on her behalf about Kenneth Jackson, and one had sent her word that tonight, here at this building, he would be here.
She’d been to Blackwood Hall twice. The first time had been to collect her brother with Ezra, after he’d sent word he was coming home. Her father had been in France at the time, supposedly on a holiday. Later Alice had realized it was to visit his mistress. He’d only returned for a few days before leaving to take up residence there.
The day she’d collected Charles, she’d seen him talking to a man as he left the building. Her brother had shaken his head vehemently, and pointed to the carriage Alice sat in. She’d opened the door and stepped down. The man had stared at her and then gone back inside. Her brother had told her his name was Kenneth Jackson, but it was not until later she’d known what he’d done to Charles.
Alice had run through many things she would do to the man, and one of them was to make him suffer. As yet, she was unsure how. She was very good with numbers and investments, and had thought long and hard about destroying the man financially, but until she knew what his situation was, she couldn’t do that. Ezra just wanted to beat him senseless, which Alice was not completely discarding.
Walking to the right-hand side of the building, Alice found the door that her informant had told her about, and entered. A young boy stood there as if waiting for someone. Tall, thin, his face was gaunt, and his red hair stood off his head in dirty spikes.
“Hello.”
He nodded at Alice’s greeting.
“I wouldn’t go in there were I you, miss,” he said before she could speak again.
“Do you come here often?” Alice asked, and he nodded.
